JP2002109331A - System, server and method for managing merchandise - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage ordered merchandise, while covering over a plurality of suppliers and to enable an orderer to easily confirm the present situation of the ordering merchandise. SOLUTION: In the case of receiving stamp order data from the computers 13 and 14 of order counters A and B, their data record is formed in the merchandise management database 11a of a merchandise managing server 11. The server 11 transmits only the data necessary to stamp manufacturing to a stamp plant A, receives the data that the stamp manufacturing is finished from the computer 15 of the plant 15, when the stamp manufacturing is finished, and rewrites the present situation of the data record of the database 11a from 'in plant manufacturing' into 'in delivery'.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise management system, a merchandise management server, and a merchandise management method capable of centrally managing the flow from order receipt to manufacturing, delivery, and collection of ordered goods to a plurality of traders. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a business such as a manufacturing industry and a home delivery business, a merchandise management system has been used in each trader to realize efficient management of merchandise. Such a merchandise management system within a single company stores customer information (for example, customer address, customer address,
Name, telephone number, etc., details of the processing within the trader (for example, details of the product to be manufactured, delivery date, etc., if there is a production order from the product manufacturer), and the ordered product (For example, if it is a manufacturer, completion to the second manufacturing process, etc.) is included in the product management database. Then, every time the processing of the product is completed by one step, the data on the current status of the product in the product management database is rewritten, so that the current status of the product can be always grasped using the computer arranged in the trader. It has become.

[0003]

However, in the above-described merchandise management system in one trader, although merchandise management can be performed in each trader, merchandise management across a plurality of traders cannot be performed. Therefore, for products processed across multiple vendors, the order counter does not know the current status of the product, so even if the orderer inquires the current status of the product to the order counter, the order counter will not be Inability to answer inquiries.

[0004] Further, even if the ordered product is processed by only one trader, the orderer calls the order counter to check the current status of the product, or directly contacts the order counter. It is necessary to wait for the order counter to retrieve data on the current status of the product from the product management system and verbally relay it to the orderer even after calling and calling, which makes it difficult for the orderer. It is very complicated to check the current status of a product.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a product management system and a product management system which enable the orderer to easily check the current status of the ordered product while being able to manage the ordered product over a plurality of traders. A management server and a product management method are provided.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandise management system comprising: a merchandise management database for storing data relating to merchandise orders; And each computer of
They are connected to each other via a communication network so as to be able to transmit and receive data, and when an order is placed by an orderer, data related to the order is formed in the product management database, and subsequently, the plurality of items are read from the product management database. Only the data necessary for the trader is transmitted to the computer of the trader selected from the trader, and the data of the progress of the process related to the product in each trader is transmitted from the computer of each trader to the product management database. And the contents of the commodity management database are rewritten based on the data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandise management server including a merchandise management database for storing data on an order for a merchandise, wherein the merchandise management server communicates with computers of a plurality of traders related to the merchandise via a communication network. It is connected so as to be able to transmit and receive data, and when an order is placed by an orderer, subsequently forming data related to the order in the product management database, the computer of a trader selected from the plurality of traders When only necessary data is transmitted to the trader, and when data on the progress of the process related to the product in each trader is received from the computer of each trader, the contents of the commodity management database are rewritten based on the data. .

[0008] Claim 8 relates to a product management method in a product management server including a product management database for storing data related to a product order. When an order is placed by an orderer, data related to the order is stored. Subsequently to the merchandise management database, only data necessary for the merchant is transmitted to the computer of the merchant selected from the plurality of merchants, and data on the degree of progress of the process on the merchandise at each merchant is transmitted to each merchant. Upon receipt from the computer of the trader, the contents of the commodity management database are rewritten based on the data.

[0011] The present invention is also directed to a client associated with a merchandise processing company which is connected to a merchandise management server including a merchandise management database for storing data relating to merchandise orders via a communication network. According to a product management method, when an order is placed by an orderer, only data necessary for the trader is received from the product management server, and data on the degree of progress of a process related to a product in the trader is transmitted to the product management server. It is characterized by the following.

According to the first, fifth, eighth, and eleventh aspects, since the commodity management database and each computer of a plurality of traders are connected via a communication network, a large number of industries (manufacturers, delivery traders, collections, etc.) are provided. (For example, one or more vendors for each type of business) can use the merchandise management database, and the progress of processing at the merchant supplied from each vendor to the merchandise management database becomes possible. The contents of the product management database are rewritten based on the data on the degree. This allows
It is possible to centrally manage the current status of products processed (eg, manufactured, delivered, collected, etc.) across a plurality of traders in a product management database. Therefore, the orderer can easily confirm the current status of the ordered product by accessing the product management database.

[0011] Also, since only the data necessary for each selected supplier (for example, in the case of a manufacturer, the order number and the contents of the product related to the production) are transmitted from the product management database, the data can be obtained by each vendor. It is possible to reduce the possibility that a work error occurs due to a mistake in reading a document or the like.

In the present invention, the plurality of traders may be traders of the same business type or traders of different business types. Further, the data on the progress of the process on the product by the trader may be transmitted only once when the processing is completed by one trader, or may be transmitted when the processing by one trader is divided into a plurality of stages. May be transmitted a plurality of times until the process is completed.

In the present invention, any known network such as the Internet or WAN may be used as the communication network. Further, in the present invention, the function of the server may be provided in only one computer, or may be distributed to a plurality of computers.

In the present invention, when an order is placed by the orderer, the merchandise management server selects one or a plurality of traders from a plurality of traders (claims 2, 6, and 9). By this, when an order is placed by the orderer, the most appropriate trader pertaining to the order enters the order data (data about the orderer, such as the name and address of the orderer, and data about the contents of the product ordered by the orderer). It is possible to send data from the merchandise management database to the trader concerned. Therefore, for example, if the orderer wants early delivery of goods, a company that can take immediate action such as a company that is geographically close to the orderer or a company that can start manufacturing products immediately can be used. By making the selection, it is possible to promptly respond to the order of the orderer.

Further, in the present invention, when data indicating that the processing has been completed is transmitted from the computer of a trader of a certain business type to the product management database, the content is rewritten from the product management database and then another It is preferable that only data necessary for the trader is transmitted to the computer of the trader related to the business type (claims 3, 7, 10). As a result, it is possible to manage products across a plurality of industries.

The products processed in the present invention are:
It may be an individual information display product such as a stamp or a business card (claim 4). As a result, the details of individual products differ according to the orderer's order details.Individual information display such as stamps and business cards.The current situation from ordering to delivery of products can be centrally managed and the orderer can easily confirm it. become able to.

In the present invention, the individual information includes personal information such as the name (name), address, telephone number, and e-mail address of some kind of collective or individual such as a corporation, as well as created sentences and catch phrases. And various information such as combinations of symbols meaning specific contents. In addition, the “individual information display product” in the present invention includes:
For example, a stamp, a business card, a nameplate, a thousand company bills, a sticker, and the like are included.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a product management system according to the present embodiment. In a product management system 1 shown in FIG. 1, a product management server 11 including a product management database 11a, and computers 13 to 23 as clients of traders of various industries are connected to an HTTP (hyper text transfe).
r protocol), SMTP (simple mail transfer proto)
col) and a POP (post office protocol). The computer 24 of the orderer can also connect to the Internet 12 according to a protocol such as HTTP. Thereby, between the server 11 and the computers 13 to 24, e-mail and HTM
Text data, GIF, JP for displaying a web page described in L (hyper text markup language)
Transmission and reception of image data in a format such as EG and BMP can be performed.

Product management system 1 according to the present embodiment
Specifically, the product management server 11 and the order counter A
Computer 13, order counter B computer 14, stamp factory A computer 15, stamp factory B computer 16, stamp factory C computer 17, delivery company A computer 18, delivery company B computer 19, a computer 20 of the delivery company C, a computer 21 of the collection company A, a computer 22 of the collection company B, and a computer 23 of the collection company C are connected via the Internet 12.

Each of the computers 13 to 24 has a CPU, an R
A normal personal computer equipped with hardware (not shown) such as an OM, a RAM, a hard disk, and a drive device for a CD or FD, and on which various software including a GUI-based OS, a web browser, and a mailer are installed. And is connected to the Internet 12 using communication equipment such as a modem and a router.

The product management server 11 includes a CPU, a ROM,
It includes hardware (not shown) such as a RAM, a hard disk, and a drive device for a CD or FD, and a GU.
It is a computer on which various software including an I-based network OS and a WWW server application are installed, and is connected to the Internet 12 using a communication device such as a router. The hard disk of the merchandise management server 11 has a merchandise management database 11a and a trader management database 11 described in detail below.
b is stored.

The merchandise management database 11a stores data on stamp orders (data on the orderer, such as the name and address of the orderer, and product data on the stamp type ordered by the orderer, the character string made on the stamp, etc.): 3 (see FIG. 3). Further, the trader management database 11b stores the traders 13 to 23 related to the stamp.
(Data of operation status, delivery date, processing unit price, etc .: see FIG. 6).

When data relating to a stamp order is transmitted from any of the order counters A and B by e-mail or the like, the product management server 11 forms a data record for the order in the product management database 11a. Then, based on the data on the order stored in the product management database 11a and the data of each trader stored in the trader management database 11b, the product management server 11 optimizes the stamp factory, the delivery trader, and the collection trader for the order. Select each. For example, if the number of days until the delivery date specified by the orderer is short, a stamp factory with a relatively short delivery date is selected, and if there is room before the delivery date specified by the orderer, the stamp factory with the lowest production unit price is selected. Is selected.

The merchandise management server 11 selects and transmits only data necessary for the merchant from the data on the order stored in the merchandise management database 11a to the selected merchant. For example, in a stamp factory,
Only the order number and product data (such as the stamp type and the text to be printed on the stamp) are sent,
Only the order number and data about the orderer (such as the name and address of the orderer) are sent to the carrier, and the collectors are notified of the order number, collection method, and data about the orderer (such as the name and address of the orderer). Only sent.

The merchandise management server 11 receives data on the progress of the merchandise processing from the trader who has selected and processed the merchandise, and based on the received data, the merchandise associated with the corresponding record in the merchandise management database 11a. Rewrite the current status column. For example, when the product management server 11 receives data indicating that the stamp manufacturing has been completed from the stamp factory by e-mail, the product management server 11 changes the product status column of the corresponding record in the product management database 11a from “stamp manufacturing” to “stamp manufacturing”. (During delivery) ".

Next, a merchandise management method using the merchandise management system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a product management method using the product management system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how an order-related data record formed in the product management database is rewritten according to the procedure described in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing data transmitted from the product management server to each of the traders shown in FIG. 1 according to the procedure described in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the current status of the stamp displayed on the computer display of the stamp orderer according to the procedure described in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data record for each trader formed in the trader management database.

First, in step S1, when an orderer places an order for a stamp at the store of the order counter A or the order counter B, after the data relating to the order is digitized, the computer 13 or 14 of the order counter A or the order counter B transmits the stamp. The information is transmitted to the product management server 11 via the Internet 12. It is assumed that the order copy passed to the orderer at the store of the order counter A or the order counter B includes the order number (and password) unique to the order and the URL of the product management server 11. .

Subsequently, the product management server 11 forms one data record 52 relating to the transmitted order in the product management database 11a.
As shown in FIG. 3A, one data record 52 includes an order number, orderer (orderer) data, delivery destination data, product data (stamp type, stamp character string, etc.),
Includes tax-included amount, delivery date, selected factory, delivery company and collection company, current status of stamps related to orders, and the like. At the stage of step S1, the data record 5
The data is written in the columns of order No., orderer data, destination data, product data, tax-inclusive amount, and delivery date, but the columns of the manufacturing factory, the delivery company, the collection company, and the current status are blank.

Next, in step S2, the merchandise management server 11 transmits the data records 52 stored in the merchandise management database 11a as shown in FIG. 3A and the data records of the trader management database as shown in FIG. On the basis of the order counters A and B, a company suitable for the order is selected. In the present embodiment, the following description is made on the assumption that the merchandise management server 11 has selected the stamp factory A, the delivery company B, and the collection company C as the stamp factory, the delivery company, and the collection company, respectively. . Along with the selection of the trader, the product management server 11 fills in the columns of the manufacturing factory, the delivery trader, the money collection trader, and the current status of the data record 52 stored in the product management database 11a, as shown in FIG. From "stamp factory A", "delivery company B", "collection company C", and "factory under construction".

Then, in step S3, the merchandise management server 11 transmits to the computer 15 of the stamp factory A only the data necessary for processing in the stamp factory A among the data records 52 stored in the merchandise management database 11a. Send by e-mail. Stamp Factory A
The data necessary for the processing in step (a) is, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), data 52a relating to the order number, product data and delivery date in the data record 52.

At this time, when the orderer of the stamp accesses the product management server 11 from the computer 24 based on HTTP and inputs an order number (and password), the product management server 11 enters the product management database 11a.
An HTML file including a character string reflecting the data in the stamp status column of the data record 52 relating to the order No. is transmitted to the computer 24 based on HTTP.
As a result, the browser display window 51 of the orderer's computer 24 displays, as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, in step S4, the computer 15 of the stamp factory A transmits data indicating that the production of the stamp has been completed by e-mail, and the commodity management server 11 receives the e-mail.

Next, in step S5, the merchandise management server 11 displays the current status column of the data record 52 of the merchandise management database 11a based on the data received from the computer of the stamp factory A15 as shown in FIG. In this way, it is rewritten from "Factory production" to "Delivery".

In step S6, the merchandise management server 11 transmits to the computer 19 of the delivery company B only the data necessary for processing at the delivery company B among the data records 52 stored in the product management database 11a. Send by e-mail. The data necessary for the processing by the delivery company B is the data 52b relating to the order No., the destination data and the delivery date in the data record 52 as shown in FIG. At this time, the stamp manufactured at the stamp factory A is delivered to the delivery company B.

At this time, when the orderer of the stamp accesses the product management server 11 from the computer 24 based on HTTP and inputs the order number (and password), the product management server 11 sends the product management database 11a.
An HTML file including a character string reflecting the data in the stamp status column of the data record 52 relating to the order No. is transmitted to the computer 24 based on HTTP.
As a result, the browser display window 51 of the orderer's computer 24 displays, as shown in FIG. 5B, a web page including the current time and the character string “under delivery”.

Subsequently, in step S7, the computer 19 of the delivery company B transmits data indicating that the delivery of the stamp to the designated destination has been completed by e-mail.
The product management server 11 receives this e-mail.

Next, in step S8, based on the data received from the computer 19 of the delivery company B, the merchandise management server 11 changes the current status column of the data record 52 of the merchandise management database 11a to the state shown in FIG. As shown, it is rewritten from "under delivery" to "under billing".

In step S9, the merchandise management server 11 transmits to the computer 23 of the collection company C only the data necessary for processing at the collection company C among the data records 52 stored in the product management database 11a. Send by e-mail. As shown in FIG. 4C, the data required for the processing by the collection company C is the data 52c regarding the order No., the orderer data, and the tax-included amount (collection amount) in the data record 52.

At this time, when the orderer of the stamp accesses the product management server 11 from the computer 24 based on HTTP and inputs the order number (and password), the product management server 11 transmits the product management database 11a.
An HTML file including a character string reflecting the data in the stamp status column of the data record 52 relating to the order No. is transmitted to the computer 24 based on HTTP.
As a result, a web page including the character string “Delivered” is displayed together with the current time in the browser display window 51 of the orderer's computer 24, as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, in step S10, data indicating that collection of the designated amount and transfer to the designated transfer account have been completed are transmitted to the computer 23 of the collection company C.
Is transmitted by e-mail, and the product management server 11 receives the e-mail.

Next, in step S11, based on the data received from the computer 23 of the collection company C, the merchandise management server 11 changes the current status column of the data record 52 of the merchandise management database 11a to the state shown in FIG. As shown, "requested" is rewritten to "processed". Thus, the data processing for one order is completed, and the data record 52 is deleted from the product management database 52.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the commodity management database 11a and the computers 13 to 23 of the plurality of traders are connected via the Internet 12, the manufacturer, the delivery trader, and the collection trader. A number of vendors related to many industries, including
1a can be used, and the merchandise management database 11a can be used based on data supplied from each merchant to the merchandise management database 11a indicating that the processing by the merchant has been completed.
The content of a is rewritten. This makes it possible to centrally manage the current status of stamps received, received, manufactured, delivered, and collected over a plurality of traders in the product management database 11a. Therefore, the orderer can easily confirm the current status of the stamp ordered by accessing the product management database 11a via the Internet 12 using the computer 24.

Also, in this embodiment, since only the data required by the trader selected in step S2 is transmitted from the commodity management database 11a, each trader may have an error in reading the data. Work error is less likely to occur.

Further, in this embodiment, when a stamp is ordered from the orderer, the most suitable trader for the order is selected based on the data record 52 of the merchandise management database 11a, and selected from the merchandise management database 11a. It is possible to send data to the contracted company. Therefore,
For example, if the orderer wants early delivery of stamps, a company that can process quickly such as a stamp factory that is geographically close to the orderer or a stamp factory that can start manufacturing stamps immediately. By making the selection, it is possible to promptly respond to the order of the orderer.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the appended claims. Things. For example, in the above embodiment, the orderer was able to access the product management database 11a via the Internet 12 using the computer 24, but the orderer may be able to directly access the product management database 11a. Alternatively, the product management database 11a may be accessible by another means.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the data to that effect is received only once at the time of completion of the processing from each trader, but is divided into a plurality of times according to the degree of progress of the processing at each trader. Alternatively, data may be received from each trader. As a result, the orderer can more precisely grasp the current state of the product. Further, in the above-described embodiment, one trader performs only one type of business, but one trader may perform processing across a plurality of types of business. For example,
Delivery and collection of goods may be processed by the same merchant.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, data exchange between each trader and the product management server 11 is performed by e-mail. However, an ID and a password unique to the trader are issued in advance, and unauthorized access is performed. In this case, each trader accesses the product management server 11 based on HTTP to access the product management database 11a.
Can be rewritten. Further, the trader management database 11b used in the above-described embodiment is not always necessary, and the trader may be selected by referring only to the commodity management database 11a. Further, the selection of each trader may not be collectively performed in step S2, but may be performed in a step immediately before data transmission to traders of each type of business.

In the above-described embodiment, the order counters A and B are actual stores to which the orderer goes directly.
The order counter may be provided on a server connected to the Internet 12. In this case, there is an advantage that the orderer can access the server having the order counter to order the stamp. Further, in the above-described embodiment, only the orderer can access the product management server 11 to know the current status of the stamp. However, not only the orderer but also each trader can access the product management server 11. May be able to confirm the current status of the stamp.

[0050]

As described above, claims 1 and 5,
According to Nos. 8 and 11, since the merchandise management database and each computer of the plurality of merchants are connected via the communication network, it becomes possible for many merchants related to many industries to use the merchandise management database. Then, the contents of the merchandise management database are rewritten based on data on the degree of progress of the processing by the merchant supplied from each merchant to the merchandise management database. As a result, it is possible to centrally manage the current state of the products processed over a plurality of traders in the product management database. Therefore, the orderer can easily confirm the current status of the ordered product by accessing the product management database. Further, since only the necessary data is transmitted from the merchandise management database to each of the selected traders, it is possible to reduce the possibility of a work error occurring due to a data reading error at each trader.

According to the second, sixth, and ninth aspects, when an order is placed on a product from an orderer, an optimum trader for the order is selected based on the data on the order, and data is sent from the commodity management database to the trader. It becomes possible to send.
According to the third, seventh, and tenth aspects, product management across a plurality of industries can be performed. According to Claim 4, the details of each product differ according to the order contents of the orderer. Individual information display such as stamps and business cards are managed in a unified manner from ordering to delivery, and the orderer can easily confirm it. Will be able to

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a product management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a product management method using the product management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how an order-related data record formed in the product management database shown in FIG. 1 is rewritten according to the procedure described in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing data transmitted from the product management server to each trader shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the procedure described in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the current status of a stamp displayed on the computer display of the stamp orderer according to the procedure described in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data record for each trader formed in a trader management database.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Commodity Management System 11 Commodity Management Server 11a Commodity Management Database 11b Trader Management Database 12 Internet 13 Computer of Order Counter A 14 Computer of Order Counter B 15 Computer of Stamp Factory A 16 Computer of Stamp Factory B 17 Computer of Stamp Factory C 18 Delivery Computer of merchant A 19 Computer of carrier B 20 Computer of carrier C 21 Computer of collector A 22 Computer of collector B 23 Computer of collector C 24 Computer of customer 51 Display 52 Data record

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A product management database for storing data related to a product order, and computers of a plurality of traders related to the product are connected to each other via a communication network so as to be able to transmit and receive data. When an order is placed by the seller, the data relating to the order is formed in the product management database, and subsequently, the computer of the seller selected from the plurality of suppliers from the product management database is used by the seller. When only the data is transmitted, and when the data on the degree of progress of the process regarding the product in each trader is transmitted from the computer of each trader to the product management database, the contents of the product management database are rewritten based on the data. A merchandise management system comprising: 2. The merchandise management system according to claim 1, wherein when an order is placed by the orderer, one or more vendors are selected from the plurality of vendors. 3. When data indicating that the processing has been completed is transmitted from the computer of a trader of a certain business to the product management database, the content is rewritten from the product management database, and then the data relating to another business is changed. 3. The merchandise management system according to claim 1, wherein only data necessary for the trader is transmitted to a trader's computer. 4. The merchandise management system according to claim 1, wherein the merchandise is an individual information display product. 5. A merchandise management server including a merchandise management database for storing data related to merchandise orders, wherein the server can transmit and receive data to and from computers of a plurality of traders related to the merchandise via a communication network. When the order is placed by the orderer and connected to the merchandise management database, the data related to the order is formed in the merchandise management database. When only data is transmitted, and when data on the degree of progress of the process related to the product in each trader is received from each trader's computer, the contents of the product management database are rewritten based on the data. Product management server. 6. The merchandise management server according to claim 5, wherein when an order is placed by the orderer, one or more vendors are selected from the plurality of vendors. 7. When data indicating that the processing has been completed is received from a computer of a trader of a certain business type, the contents of the merchandise management database are rewritten, and the computer of a trader of another business type is required for the trader. The product management server according to claim 5, wherein only the data is transmitted. 8. A product management method in a product management server including a product management database for storing data on product orders, wherein when an order is placed by an orderer, the data on the order is stored in the product management database. Subsequent to the formation, only the data necessary for the trader is transmitted to the trader's computer selected from the plurality of traders, and the data on the progress of the process regarding the product in each trader is received from the trader's computer. Then, a product management method in the product management server, wherein the content of the product management database is rewritten based on the data. 9. The merchandise management method according to claim 8, wherein when an order is placed by the orderer, one or more merchants are selected from the plurality of merchants. 10. Upon receiving data indicating that the processing has been completed from a computer of a trader in a certain business, after rewriting the contents of the merchandise management database, the computer of a trader in another business needs to rewrite the computer to a computer of a trader in another business. The product management method in the product management server according to claim 8, wherein only the data is transmitted. 11. A merchandise management method in a client associated with a merchandise processing company connected to a merchandise management server including a merchandise management database for storing data related to merchandise orders and a data processing server via a communication network. When an order is placed by the orderer, only data necessary for the trader is received from the commodity management server, and data on the degree of progress of the process on the commodity in the trader is transmitted to the commodity management server. A product management method at the client pertaining to a product processing company.